Decorative plate and mounting



` Feb. 19, 1957 N. J. sTUPELL DECORATIVE PLATE AND MOUNTING Filed Aug. 27, 1954 rL/Q TOR United States gPatent O DECORATIVE PLATE AND MoUNTlNG Norman J. Stupell, New York, N. Y., assignor to Signa- Craft, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 27, 1954, serial No. 452,606

1 claim. (c1. a0-z) The present invention .relates to a decorated device and more particularly to the combination vof a decorative or identification. plate and a cooperating decorated object to which the plate is removably attached.

It is often desirable that objects such as keys, bracelets, compacts or others have a decorative or identifying monogram or emblem or other ydesign on them. Axation of such a "design, however desirable, has frequently been impractical due to the ditiiculty of applying a satisfactory one at a low cost or 'by unskilled persons in a short time. Previously, designs have been applied by permanently cementing -them on or by stenciling the design onto the object, or by cutting and -engraving the design into the article. i Permanent cement requires anv appreciablek drying time and genera-lly makes it dicult to replace the decorative device. Stenciling and engraving are time consuming an-d require skilled craftsmen.

The present invention provides a monogram or identication `device lwhich is rapidly applied to the article by inexperienced persons, which is tightly retained during use of the article and which at the same time may be easily removed and replaced when desired.

An object of the invention is to provide a decorative device and a cooperating mounting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a readily attachable type of decorative pla-te and a mounting therefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a detachable type of decorative device for use with a cooperating mounting surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mounting for a stay-wet adhesive type of decorative device.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon .an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claim, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment 4of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part rof the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fr0-nt elevational View of a key having the decorative device and mounting surface of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the key of Fig. 1 with .the decorative device removed from its mounting and partially cut away; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a monogram type of decorative device.

Fig. 1, which illustrates one embodiment of :the invention, shows a key 1 such as -an auto key having a conventional loperative portion 2 and a handle portion 4. Attached to the handle portion in a manner to be more fully described below is a name plate or decorative deice vice S. Device S may have the owners initials or name on it, or it may have a distinctive design lor an identifying label of any sort. Such markings are popular for identilication purposes, for decoration and for the individualized look they give a `decorated object.k

The decorative device 5 itself will first be described. The device 5 is generally similar to that disclosed in the inventors co-pending application S. N. 185,943, led September 2l, 1950, now Patent No. 2,699,618, dated January 18, 1955. i

The device 5 comprises a relatively rigid plate 6 having an outer surface 7 'bearing the decorative design or other insignia such as initial 16. The inner face 8 of t-he .plate is provided with an adhesive means 9. In the preferred form, one of the so-called wet adhesives is used, such as a water insoluble rubber adhesive. Such adhesives retain their -stickiness almost indefinitely and do not `require the application of solvents before use as do dry adhesives or cement.

The 4adhesive means 9 preferably does not extend to the edges of plate 6 before plate 6 is pressed onto the key 1 so that the adhesive does not tend to squeeze out around the plate edges when the plate 6 is applied. Before the plate 6 is applied yto lthe key, a layer of protective material 10 is releasably bonded to adhesive 9. This protective material is peeled oft` before the device is applied to the key.

Plate S preferably is made to have a convex outer surface 7 and a concave `inner surface S, as seen in the cross sections of Figs. 2 and 3. The advantages of this shape and the mounting surface on the key used Itherewith will be 4explained below.

A mounting surface 11 is provided on key handle 4 to firmly hold device 5 in place on key 1. Surface 11 has a central convex portion 12 shaped to generally correspond to the inner surface 8 of device 5. Around portion 12 is a narrow, at edge portion 14 Ito accommodate the edges of device 5 and the excess adhesive 9 squeezed outwardly from the center portion of the device 5. Around this edge portion 14 is a raised rim 15 shaped to fit closely around the outer edge of device 5 and high enough to extend at least to the edge of surface 7 of plate 6 when plate 6 has been pressed into position on convex portion 12 of surface 11.

The curved and complementary shapes of plate 6 and convex portion 12 of key 1 provide a combination with the following advantages. The convex shape of surface 12 cooperates with the concave shape of the adhesive 9 to prevent lateral motion of the device 5 back and forth on Ithe mounting surface 11. This aids in keeping device 5 rmly in place on any object provided with a mounting `surface 11, however it is particularly important in the case of key 1. The pulling and turning motions on a key tend to move a decorative device 5. The raised con- Vex surface 12 holds device 5 in position against such motions. The locking effect is increased in the case of a key, since the user grips tightly the handle portion 4 of the key, thus holding device 5 in position over convex portion y12.

Rim 15 used in the preferred embodiment extends at least to the surface 7 of plate 6 and ythus also prevents lateral motion of device 5 across the handle s, of key 1. Rim 15 also confines `the spread of the adhesive 9 beneat-h lthe plate 6 and allows any excess adhesive forced outwardly from the plate to 'build up -around and beneath 'the 'edges of plate 6 to prevent air from entering beneath the device 5. Thus, as the air is forced outwardly from under device 5 as it is squeezed in place and is prevented from returning `by adhesive 9, a vacuum force is present on face 7 of device 5 to aid in holding it in place.

In addition to improving the attachment of the device 5 to the decorated object, the convex shape of device 5 is 3 preferable from a decorative standpoint, as it gives .the decoration or other marking a solid three-dimensional look. This makes the device 5 appear more like an integral part of the decorated device and also makes the markings legible lto the viewer from wider angles.

While the combined device 5 and mounting surface 1.1 are particularly useful on keys as described above in the convex form of ythe preferred embodiment, it is clear that the device may be used on other objects such as jewelry, containers and the like. In certain applications the de vice 5 and the cooperating surface 11 may have a generally flat shape where the increased adherence resulting from the convex shape of the preferred embodiment is not required.

`It will be seen lthat `the present invention provides an extremely useful and decorative combination. A detachable device is provided which may be readily applied to the decorated object and which remains rmly in place to resist accidental removal during usage. Dealers of the decorated article may keep a stock of `the decorative devices on hand so that lthe initials or other mark desired by a purchaser may 'be aixed in a matter of seconds..

Where the device 5 is an identification, it may be readily changed in a few seconds to allow .the article to be used by and identiiied with a new user. The stay-Wet adhesive allows the decorative device to be readily applied or removed, and the shape of the device 5 and the cooperating mounting surface 11 and rim 15 combine to allow the stay-Wet adhesive to hold the device 5 tightly in place both by adhesion and Iby vacuum force.

The preferred form also results in an attractive decoration which has a three-dimensional effect, making the marking very legible.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacricing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A key provided witha decorative mounting comprising a curved plate having a convex outer face with a distinctive marking thereon and a concave inner face having a layer of adhesive thereon for attaching it to the key, said key having an operative por-tion and a handle portion, said handle portion Ihaving a kconvex mounting surface thereon shaped to t the concave inner face of said plate and substantially coextensive therewith for mounting said plate on said key, said convex mounting surface having a rim at its edge, and the layer of adhesive on the inner face of the plate terminating short of said rim, whereby the vplate will be prevented 4from moving laterally when the handle portion of the key is grasped for use and whereby the -rim will obstruct ow of the adhesive.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 868,948 Strauss Oct. 212, i907 1,210,230 Stringer Dec. 26, 1916 1,444,963 Fay Feb. 13, 1923 1,573,536 Benham Feb. 16, 1926 2,007,555 Wiltshire July 9, 1935 2,566,749 Rothe Sept. 4, 1951 2,699,618 Stupell Ian. 18, 1955 

